GAME NIGHT: Mavs can be silver bullet to surging ‘Wolves

The Mavericks righted the ship last week with their 50-28 win over #5 Nathan Frame and his Kinsley Coyotes.

Patrick Clement

The Mavericks righted the ship last week with their 50-28 win over #5 Nathan Frame and his Kinsley Coyotes.

While the offensive output was on par with early season expectations — as #8 Trever Powell, #24 Creighton McDonald and # 51 Rustin Ardery have begun to find their form — the Mavericks defense, oft on-again / off-again was ‘on.’ limiting the multi-talented Frame to 81 passing yards and a .320 completion rate (8 for 25). The speedy #20 Tyson Espinoza clocked only 170 yards on 21 carries, with the Mav offense seemingly applying proper pressure when needed.

On Friday the Mavericks (2-2) will face the surging South Central Timberwolves (3-1) and their diverse offense.

The Timberwolves have spread their offense across multiple players thus far in the season with # Stetson Underwood, #12 Colby Lindsey and #02 Colton Herd all contributing to the running game.

Lindsey, a junior, leads the team with 518 yards rushing this season. He has already past last years benchmark. Lindsey ran for 300 yards during the 2011-2012 season.

Underwood has compiled 518 yards rushing this season on 52 carried, averaging nearly ten yards per carry. In his junior year, Underwood established himself as a ground threat last season, leading the team with 642 yards on 92 carries.

Herd could be on the verge of a breakout sophomore season busting through last year’s sub 100-yard effort with a 169 yards in the first four games.

Underwood will go to the pass on key downs and has passed for .577 (15 for 23) with 324 passing yards.

The Mavericks will need to contain the quick hands of #10 Jimmy Cook and #03 Koy Alexander if they expect to turn the ball over on downs. These guys are fast and if the Mavericks can stunt the ‘Wolves ground game, coach Matt Smith may go to the air, where the Mavs have shown some vulnerability in early weeks.